Circular No. 07/2013/TT-BLDTBXH stipulates the professional standards for social work volunteers at commune level.

CIRCULAR

Regulations on the professional standards for social work volunteers at commune, ward, and town levelscommune, ward, town

Pursuant to Decree No. 106/2012/NĐ-CP dated December 20, 2012, of the Government, stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs;

Pursuant to Decision No. 32/2010/QĐ-TTg dated March 25, 2010 of the Government approving the Social Work Profession Development Project for the period 2010-2020;

The Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs issues this Circular to stipulate the professional standards for social work volunteers at commune, ward, and town levels as follows:

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

1. This Circular stipulates the professional standards for social work volunteers at commune, ward, and town levels (hereinafter referred to as social work volunteers at the commune level).

2. The professional standards for social work volunteers at the commune level serve as the basis for the utilization and management of the social work volunteer workforce operating at the commune level.

Article 2. Service Recipients of Social Work Volunteers at the Commune Level

The service recipients of social work volunteers include: elderly people; persons with disabilities; persons with mental illness and those with mental disorders; persons infected with HIV/AIDS; poor individuals; children; victims of human trafficking; victims of domestic violence and gender discrimination; emergency protection subjects as defined in Clause 2, Article 5 of Decree No. 68/2008/ND-CP dated May 30, 2008 of the Government on conditions, procedures for establishment, organization, operation, and dissolution of social welfare facilities (hereinafter referred to as Decree No. 68/2008/ND-CP); drug addicts and prostitutes; former drug rehabilitation participants; parents or caregivers of children requiring emergency protection; other subjects requiring social work services (hereinafter referred to as service recipients).

Article 3. Duties of Social Work Volunteers at the Commune Level

1. General Responsibilities

Social work volunteers at the commune level perform social work tasks as assigned by the Chairman of the People's Committee at the commune level.

2. Specific Responsibilities

a) Collecting, receiving information, and assistance requests from service recipients within their jurisdiction to promptly report to the Chairman of the People's Committee at the commune level and the commune-level cultural-social officer for appropriate solutions; screening, categorizing service recipients, and recommending to the Chairman of the People's Committee at the commune level to refer service recipients to relevant social welfare facilities, social work centers, healthcare-rehabilitation facilities, educational-training institutions, and other suitable organizations.

b) Monitoring, evaluating the health status, family and social relationships, and assistance needs of service recipients, proposing timely and appropriate measures to competent authorities for implementation, such as counseling, consultation, therapy, mediation, persuasive education, prevention, and isolation.

c) Participating in implementing policies and programs to assist service recipients and groups of service recipients within their jurisdiction.

d) Inspecting, supervising, reviewing, and periodically compiling and reporting the results of social assistance policies and programs within their jurisdiction to the Chairman of the People's Committee at the commune level.

đ) Participating in labor force and war veteran surveys and social investigations organized by higher authorities within their jurisdiction (if applicable).

e) Participating in educational and communication activities to enhance public awareness and change behaviors to improve the effectiveness of social assistance activities in the community.

g) Performing other tasks as assigned by the Chairman of the People's Committee at the commune level.

Article 4. Standards for Social Work Volunteers at the Commune Level

1. Competency Standards

a) Understanding the process and basic skills of social work practice to assist service recipients;

b) Knowledge of assistance policies and regulations for service recipients;

c) Familiarity with the responsibilities and duties of social work volunteers;

d) Effectively coordinating with related agencies and units during the execution of social work tasks.

2. Qualification Standards

Possess certificates or certifications from training courses or have diplomas in social work, psychology, sociology, special education, and other relevant social disciplines.

From 2015, social work volunteers at the commune level must meet the minimum standard of a vocational diploma in social work or a related field.

3. Moral Standards

Social work volunteers at the commune level must have good moral character; implement well the policies and laws of the Party and the State; and have no criminal record.

Article 5. Allowance System for Social Work Collaborators at Commune Level

Social work collaborators at commune level shall work under the social work collaborator contract system and shall be entitled to a monthly allowance equivalent to the general minimum wage as prescribed by the Government.

Article 6. Implementation Organization

The People's Committee of the province or centrally governed city shall be responsible for directing:

1. The Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs shall take the lead and coordinate with the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Finance:

a) To compile plans for selecting, arranging, utilizing, and training social work collaborators of the province or centrally governed city; report on implementation status to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs;

b) To prepare the budget for paying allowances to social work collaborators at commune level and submit it for approval by the competent authority;

c) To guide the selection and signing of social work collaborator contracts; inspect and supervise implementation within the province or centrally governed city.

2. The People's Committee at district level shall be responsible for directing the Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs to take the lead and coordinate with the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Finance and Planning:

a) To compile results of selecting, utilizing, and managing social work collaborators at commune level of communes, wards, and towns; needs and plans for vocational and specialized training, and report to the Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs;

b) To prepare the budget for paying allowances to social work collaborators at commune level and send it to the Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs for consolidation and coordination with the Department of Finance and the Department of Home Affairs before submitting for approval by the competent authority.

3. The Chairman of the People's Committee at commune level shall be responsible for:

a) Selecting persons to serve as social work collaborators in accordance with prescribed standards;

b) Signing social work collaborator contracts and creating conditions for collaborators to complete their tasks;

c) Creating conditions for collaborators to participate in training and vocational development programs organized by higher-level authorities.

Article 7. Effective Date

1. This Circular shall take effect from July 9, 2013.

2. During implementation, if there are any difficulties, units are requested to promptly reflect them to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs for research and resolution./.